Bow rest and clamping device.



H. B. WHITE. BOW BEST AND CLAMPING D EVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. 1912.

1, 1 7 9,988. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

-VHlZlOI1 of the device.

UNTED S HARRY B. WHITE, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GILLIAM MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BOW BEST AND CLAMPING DEVICE.

Application filed February 26, 1912.

the accompanying drawings, shown and herein described one form of supporting and clamping device embodying my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle showing the top thereof collapsed and a bow rest and clamping device embodying invention as supporting and clamping the bows of the top. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bow support and clamping device, parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a front ele- Fig'. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the clamping member in inoperative position.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a vehicle having a body l The vehicle 1 may be of any standard or preferred form of construction and may be propelled in any suitable manner.

2 indicatesa top for the vehicle 1,'it being supported either in folded or unfolded po sition by a series of bows Qgall of which may be pivoted to each other and to the vehicle body 1*, as shown at 2".

The top 2 is shown in collapsed or folded condition, butit will be understood that it can be unfolded, or thrown up, to cover the vehicle in the usual manner. I

3 indicates brackets fixed to and extending laterally from either side of the body 1, at or near its rear end, only one of said brackets being shown. At its outer end the bracket 3 is formed with an opening 3*, preferably of conical shape, to receive the upper end of a supporting member 4. The supporting member 4. preferably comprises a vertically arranged depending rod 4*. The upper end of this rod is reduced to fit within and extend through the opening 3 a shoulder 43 being provided to engage the lower side of the bracket 3, when the rod 4a is se- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. is, rare.

Serial No. 679,911.

cured thereto. At a the reduced end of the rod P is provided with screw threads to receive a nut 4, whereby the supporting member l can be secured to the adjacent bracket 3.

5 indicates a slotted sleeve member, the outer walls of which are of conical shape to fit within and engage the inner walls of the opening 3. This sleeve member 5 surrounds the reduced end of the rod i and is interposed between the nut 4 and shoulder 4 lVhen the nut 4 is tightened, it engages with the sleeve member 5 and forces it downwardly. The effect of this operation is to cause the sleeve member to contract into snug engagement with the rod 4* and thus rigidly bind or secure it within the opening 3 of and to the bracket 3.

The lower end of the rod 4 is preferably bent or curved outwardly, as shown in the drawings, to form a horizontal laterally extending arm P that carries a rest plate 6. This plate 6 is preferably arc-shaped in cross section and provided with a collar 6* which slidably or adjustably fits the arm 6 indicates a set screw or equivalent d device for securing the collar 6' arm 4 7 indicates an adjustable support or plate mounted on and movable up and down on the supporting member &. In its rear portion or end the adjustable plate 7 is formed with an opening 7, through which the rod 4: extends. The plate or support is preferably slotted as shown at 7 7 indicates suitable means for looking or securing the adjustable plate in any position on the rod 4 These means preferably comprise a screw or bolt adapted to suitable alined openings 7 preferably formed in rearwarclly extending integral walls of the adjustable plate 7 As will be clearly understood from the above description when the screw or bolt 7 is tightened, the walls of the opening 7 will be drawn toward each other into clamping engagement with the rod 4 As shown in the drawings the adjustable plate 7 preferablv extends forwardly and lies in substantially the same vertical plane as the arm P, but is of less length than said arm.

7 indicates an opening formed in the front end or portion of the adjustable sup on the port 7 and extending in a vertical; direction therethrough. The walls of this opening form a bearing to receive, and slidably and rotatably support a vertical rod 8, the lower end of which extends through the opening 7. At its upper end the rod 8 may be curved or bent, as shown in the drawings, to form an arm 8 which extends horizontally. This arm is preferably arranged in the vertical plane of the arm 4 8 indicates a clamp plate adjustably mounted upon the arm 8*. The clamp 8 is provided with a, collar which acljustably fits the arm 8*, a set screw 8 being provided to secure the collar in the desired position thereon. The clamp 8 is preferably arcshape in cross section and inverted, whereby it may engage the uppermost bow 2 and cooperate with the rest 6 to clamp the bows of the vehicle top in folded position, as shown in Fig. 1.

8 indicates a collar or ring fixed to the vertical rod 8 and arranged thereon above the adjustable support 7.

9 indicates a spring, preferably of the coil type, surrounding the rod 8. This spring is interposed between the collar 8 and the adjustable support 7, and is arranged to be compressed when the clamp plate is operated by the means about to be described.

10 indicates a cam device for drawing down the rod 8 to move the clamp 8 into clamping engagement with the uppermost bow 2. This device preferably comprises a lever l0 that is pivoted at 10 to the lower or free end of the rod 8, and a cam 1O which is preferably formed by rounding one corner at the upper end of the lever. The lower end of the lever 10 serves as an operating handle. The cam 10 is arranged to engage the lower or adjacent surface of the adjustable plate 7 and when operated about the pivot of the lever 10*, from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2, it draws the rod 8 downwardly in opposition to the spring 9 and locks the clamp 8 against the uppermost bow 2 The pivot 10 preferably extends in the same plane as the arm 8* in order that the lever 10 may swing in a direction parallel with the bows 2 The upper end of the lever 10 or that end which engages the plate 7, is fiat, that is to say, it extends in opposite directions at right angles to a line extending longitudinally of the lever through its axis, as shown at 10, to form shoulders either of which places the spring 9 under greater or less tension as the lever is swung from one position to another. As the result of such construction, a lock is formed to maintain the clamps 8 in engagement with the upper bow. 2

The lever 10 may, if desired, be bifurcated as shown at 10 in Fig. 2. In this form of construction the lower end of the 9 arran e b en th b f rcat o 1 and the pivot 1O extends through the bifurcations 10 and rod 8. This construction is the preferred one, since it provides two cams 10, 10 that engage the adjustable plate 7 on opposite sides of the rod 8, and operate to force the rod 8 downwardly in an axial direction. Since the rod 8 is rotatable as well as slidable in the opening 7 relative to the support 7, it will be understood that the bow clamp 8 can be moved to an inoperative position (see Fig. 5), or out of the path of movement of the bows 2, after which the cam device 10 can be operated to lock the rod 8 in such position. This operation permits the bow clamp 8 to be maintained in an in-operative position during the use of the top 2 as a cover for the vehicle. I

The coil spring 9 serves to normally main tain the clamp plate slightly above the uppermost bow 2 whereby it can be readily rotated to and from its iii-operative position. It also serves as a yielding device to permit the operation of the cam device 10 to lock or release the clamp plate. Further, the spring 9 also operates as an anti-rattler, taking up jars transmitted to the several parts of the clamp devices and overcoming noise due to contact between them.

In the operation of the device, the top 2 is folded down or collapsed in the usual manner, the lowermost bow engaging with and resting upon the bow rest 6. The adjustable member 7 is then adjusted up or down on the rod 4* so as to bring the clamp 8 approximately into engagement with the uppermost bow 2 whereupon the adjustable member is secured by the bolt or screw 7". The bow clamp 8 'is then swung into a position immediately above the uppermost how 2*. Following this operation, the cam device 10 is swung about its pivot, the cam 1O thereof engaging the support 7 draws the rod 8 and clamp plate 8*, carried thereby, downwardly and causes the latter to clamp the uppermost bow 25 In unclamping the bows 2 the lever 10 is operated in a reverse direction. Such operation releases the clamp plate 8 ,whereupon it can be rotated to the inoperative position and there secured by means of the cam device 10, if desired.

To those skilled in the art of making bow rest and clamping devices of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and application of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a depending rod adapted 139 for connection with the body of a vehicle and having an arm extendingllaterally from its lower end, a rest mounted on said arm for receiving and supporting the bows ofthe vehicle top, a member mounted on and movable up and down on said rod, the said mem her being formed with a vertical opening in its front end, means for securing the member in its adjusted position on said rod, a second rod slidably mounted in and extending through said opening in said member, the upper end of the rod being bent laterally to form a horizontal arm, a clamp mounted on said last mentioned arm and cooperable with the rest to clamp the bows of the top, a collar or ring fixed to said second rod and arranged abovethe said adjustable member, a coiled spring surrounding said rod and interposed between said collar or ring and the adjacent surface of said member, and a lever device pivoted to the lower end of said second rod and engaging the lower surface of the adjustable member and arranged when operated to draw said second rod and clamp plate downwardly to clamp the bows.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rod adapted for corn nection with the body of a vehicle and hav-' ing a laterally extending arm, a rest mounted on said arm for receiving and supporting the bows of the vehicle top,a member mounted on and movable up and down on said rod, the said member being formed with a vertical opening in its front end, means for securing the member in its adjusted position, a second rod slidably mounted in and extending through said opening in said member, the upper end of the rod being bent laterally to form a horizontal arm, a clamp adjustably mounted on said last mentioned arm and cooperable with the rest to clamp the bows of the top, a collar or ring fixed to I said second rod arranged above the adjustable member, a coiled spring surrounding said second rod and lnterposed between said collar or ring and the adjacent surface of said member, and means for drawing said rod and clamp plate down to clamp the bows.

3. In a device of the character described. the combination of a depending rod adapted for connection with the body of a vehicle and having an arm extending laterally from its lower end, a rest mounted on said arm for receiving and supporting the bows of the vehicle top, a member mounted on and mov-- able up and down on said rod, the said member being formed with a vertical opening in its front end, means for securing the memher in its adjusted position, a second rod slidably and rotatably mounted in and extending through said opening in said member, the upper end of the rod being bent laterally to form a horizontal arm, a clamp mounted on said arm and cooperable with the rest to clamp the bows of the top, a collar or ring fixed to said second rod arranged above the adjustable member, a coiled spring surrounding said rod and interposed between said collar or ring and the adjacent surface of the said member, and a lever having bifurcations pivoted to the lower end of said second rod and arranged to operatively engage the lower surface of the adjustable member upon opposite sides of said second rod and in any position to which it may be rotated.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a bracket adapted to be supported at the side of a vehicle, of a rod depending from said bracket and provided with a horizontal arm at its lower end, a member adjustable up .and down on said rod, means for securing the said member in any position on said rod, a separate rod slidably supported on said member and provided with a horizontal arm at its upper end, the said arms being provided with plates to engage the upper and lower bows of the vehicle top, means for normally maintainingthe separate rod in an elevated position, and a lever engaging with the lower surface of said adjustable member for drawing the rod downwardly to effect a clamping action upon the bows, the lever being provided with a flat end to form a lock therefor.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a vertically depending rod arranged to be supported from the side of a vehicle, a separate vertical rod arranged parallel to the other rod, means interposed between the rods for connecting them together and supporting the separate rod on the supported rod, the said connecting means being adjustable up and down on said sup ported rod and permitting the said separate rod to move up and down and angularly relatively to said connecting means and independently of its adjustment on said supported rod, means for securing the connecting means in any position on the supported rod, plates carried by said rods and arranged to engage the upper and lower bows of the vehicle top, and a lever pivoted to said separate rod and having an arm arranged to engage the lower surface of the connecting means for moving said separate rod downwardly into operative position and for looking it in such position.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a bracket adapted to be supported at the side of a vehicle, of a rod supported by and depending from said bracket, the said rod provided with an arm extending laterally from its lower end, a rest mounted on said arm and arranged to receive and support the bows of the vehicle top, a member mounted on and movable up and down on. said rod, means for securing f the said member in its adjusted position on said rod, the said member being provided with an opemng, the axis of which extends parallel to said rod, a second rod slidably and rotatably mounted in the opening formed in said member and extending through said opening, the upper end of the said second rod being provided with a laterally extending arm, a clamp mounted on the last mentioned arm and cooperable with the rest to clamp the bows of the top, a collar fixed to said second rod and arranged above the adjustable member, a spring surrounding said second rod and interposed between the collar and the adjustable member, and a lever pivoted to the said second rod below the adjustable member on an axis extending in the vertical plane of the arm carried by said second rod, the said lever having an arm arranged to operatively engage .the adjustable member for drawing the said second rod downwardly to operate the said clamp.

7 For a vehicle provided with a folding top, a support having a bow rest, a connecting member, a vertically slidable and horizontally rotatable post carrying an upper bow clamp, a shoulder formed upon said post, a spring interposed between said connecting member and said shoulder, and means interposed between said vertically movable post, spring and support, including a pivoted lever, for controlling the clamp ing of said post in opposition to said spring.

8. For a vehicle provided with a folding top, asupport having a bow rest, a connecting member, a vertically slidable and horizontally rotatable post carrying an upper bow clamp, a shoulder formed upon said post, a spring interposed between said connecting member and said shoulder, and a cam lever having connection with said post for clamping it against vertical movement with relation to said support and in opposition to said spring.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY B. WHITE.

Witnesses:

W. C. Sornox, CHAS. M. BALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

